Celebrating Canada Day 150: The Most ‘Canadian’ Careers

It’s Canada Day 150, and in honour of this momentous milestone we’re sharing our true patriot love for the most Canadian of Canadian careers!

From Mounties to hockey players, today we support those employed in the True North and salute these hard working Canadians with glowing hearts (and maybe a couple cool firework displays as well).

And now, without further adieu, let’s review Canada’s most ‘Canadian’ careers!

1. Tim Hortons Anything

Ah Timmies, where o’ where would we be without you? Probably back in bed hitting snooze another dozen times. You’re always there for us, literally, on every street corner tempting us with your ‘always fresh’ baked goodness and double doubles. From your coffee brewers, sandwich artists, cashiers, and even your namesake, we don’t know what Canada would look like (or how half of our population would function) without you. We don’t need to roll up the rim to know that with you guys around we are all winners!

2. Mounties

Otherwise known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada just wouldn’t be Canada without this oft photographed and highly symbolic iconic police force and their esteemed steeds. As Canada’s national police force, the red serge mounties have great responsibility to all Canadian citizens. They also decorate about half of our nation’s supply of postcards and souvenir paraphernalia. So let’s hear it for Mounties and, while we’re at it, their mounts too!

3. Lumberjack

The lumberjack is one of Canada’s most recognizable stereotypes, and though there are far fewer employed than there may have been 150 years ago, the lumberjack lives on as an enduring symbol of Canadian strength and pride. And with their rough and outdoorsy looks, these guys made beards and plaid flannel hip long before the rest of the Western world caught up to this charmingly Canadian aesthetic. Thanks for helping Canadians keep warm while looking cool these past 150 years!

4. Tree Planters

Nearly every Canadian has “that” friend, the one that spent their summer between semesters out in the rough and wild Canadian wilderness planting trees, and enlightening the rest of us as to the life-changing and existential benefits of working a job in nature. So hang a flag for us from the tallest tree today, planters! We, along with Mother Earth and the remaining lumberjacks, are all grateful for the work you do.

5. Hockey player

It’s been said that Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. But whether you’re a stick wielding Canuck living in the States or the True North, it doesn’t matter to us, we’ll still tune in regularly (and for some, religiously) to watch you skate circles around the competition. Because in the True North it’s not just a sport, it’s a passion. And a true portrait of a real Canadian would just not be the same without you.

6. Maple Syrup Tappers

This seriously sweet career has deep roots in Canadian history, and achieves an even deeper affection from modern day maple-loving Canadians. It rivals even our previous ‘export’ of hockey players, as Canada is the largest exporter of the sticky syrup in the world (Today there are more than 10,000 maple syrup farms distributed across Canada). We love the stuff so much we’ll even drizzle it on snow (our other major ‘export’), let it harden, and enjoy the resulting tacky substance on a stick. And of course, check the flag if you need a reminder of Canadian’s appreciation for all things maple. Sweet!

7. Beer Brewers

Beer and breweries occupy a very special place in the imagined Canadian identity. In fact, settlers of Canada in the seventeenth century found the country to be an ideal place for beer brewing and consumption due to Canada’s “natural refrigeration.” And so important was beer to the British soldiers at the time that they were each entitled to six pints every day. Famous Canadian brewers have gone down in history to become industry staples, like Molson, Alexander Keith, Carling and Labatt. Canadian brewers are also inventive: the first government issued patent in Canada was for an “improved method for brewing.” When it comes to beer the stereotypes hold true, Canadians really do it best. Cheers to you beer brewers!

While Canadians don’t commute to work from igloos while riding on moose, there are certain Canadian tropes worth recognizing — images that make Canada, Canada. While we love to poke fun, the truth is that Canada is a hard working industrious nation, with a population whose careers and lifestyles are as diverse as this northern nation’s landscape.

From the Timmies’ employees who ensure our mornings start out right, to the beer brewers who help us unwind at the end of the day, we owe a lot to these hard working Canadians.

About the author

Madison Burns
is the Content and Community Coordinator and designer at TalentEgg. With a double major in Communication, Culture & Information Tech and Professional Writing, you'll always find her with a book in her hand (or bag). Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow me on Instagram @madi5on!